Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

• Access to money while abroad
• Budget
• Tuition payments
• Loan papers
• Credit cards
• Local currency

• Recent wellness medical exam
• Medications needed while abroad
• Special medical conditions
• Health insurance while overseas

• On-site emergency contacts
• PCC Education Abroad Office emergency contacts
• Your student’s personal contact information abroad (telephone, mailing address, email address)
• Closest U.S. Consulate or Embassy

Before your student leaves, offer your full support. Let them know that you will be there throughout the experience if needed, including that you can still be reached from overseas.

Time abroad often begins with a honeymoon period during which students are excited to finally be in the setting that they have dreamed of. After facing realities such as unfamiliar university procedures, unexpected difficulty with the local language, commuting woes, and the absence of usual support groups, culture shock can set in. At the same time, the student is away from on-campus medical, psychological and advisory services they may have come to rely on (a major change in university life since we attended college is the degree to which students rely on these resources). Expect to hear some tales of frustration, though your student will likely be experiencing many wonderful things as well, even if you are not the first to hear about them. In most cases they won’t expect you to solve problems —as much as you may want to—and is just looking for an understanding ear.

If studying abroad was your idea to begin with, be sure not to push too hard. Every year, program directors hear complaints from students who didn’t want to come in the first place— and those students experience more difficulty than others adjusting to the new environment. In fact, some never do.

It is by overcoming any difficulties that your child will quickly rise to a new level of independence, so avoid the temptation to become too involved. Ultimately, this is their learning experience.

Also, it’s important to remember that study abroad students are not on vacation. Attending class with them—or taking your student out of class to sight-see—will interrupt the educational process and immersion experience. If you want to visit, it’s best to do so when the program has finished so you can travel together. And it’s not usually wise to try to obtain permission for your student to return home early; the end of the semester is the most important part of their academic experience.

After living abroad for as long as study abroad students do, they can’t help but be changed by the experience. This can take many forms, from new ways of dressing to cravings for different kinds of food to new political perspectives. Don’t worry too much: negative feelings usually last for a very short time, while a realistic view of America and its place in the world remains with most students for life.

Be prepared for them to experience some degree of reverse culture shock—most do—and need some time to fully readjust to living at home again. In some cases, they may even experience a period of depression or longing to return abroad. Once again, your support, interest, and understanding will help your child during this life-altering experience. Observing and discussing changes like these is an excellent way to share in your child’s international experience, and you will probably want to hear more than most other people, which will be satisfying to your child. Most study abroad participants report years later that the time they spent overseas was the best part of their college years—and that it changed them for life.

Practical Preparations

It’s a delicate balance: making sure your child is prepared for their time abroad, and letting them take the lead at the beginning of this new experience. Here is a list of things that should be resolved before departure, and our suggestions for ways to do so:

Make sure your student understands what policies apply to them while abroad. Ask home schools about credit, enrollment status, financial aid, study abroad-related fees and services the school will provide while abroad. Ask program providers for the terms of participation, which covers issues such as course load, changes to academic programs, grade reporting, fees, and refunds.

Check that your child’s passport and any required visas are in order. You should also have a valid passport in case of emergency.

Before departure, your child should have a general physical and dental exam; women should also have a gynecological checkup. Make sure they pack a complete medical record and a typed copy of any vision prescriptions needed. Ask the doctor how best to handle routine prescription medications.

Decide with your child how to access money for both everyday financial needs and emergencies. Certain monetary instruments may be preferable in certain destinations, so ask your program provider for more specific recommendations. Generally, it’s important to ask your bank how (or if) its ATM card will function abroad and what extra fees there might be. A personal credit card with cash advances or traveler’s checks could also make sense. Then, make arrangements to pay any monthly bills and, if necessary, to file your child’s income taxes.

Continue carrying your student as a dependent on your health insurance policy, even if they will have other coverage while studying abroad. Be aware that in many countries the cost of medical services must be paid in advance by the patient (and then reimbursed by insurance). Insure valuables your child will take on the trip, such as a laptop computer, camera, or video recorder. Also consider tuition, trip, travel, and luggage insurance. Advise them not to bring irreplaceable objects such as family jewelry.

Research travel costs and help book flights. Learn regulations regarding the type and size of luggage that can be carried; then help your child pack lightly. Be aware of any restrictions the tickets you purchase may have (such as a change policy). A money belt can help keep valuables safe during the trip.

Make sure you have a telephone number where you can reach your student and know the times of day when they are most likely to be there. Minimize the cost of staying in touch by establishing methods in advance. Contact your phone service provider to arrange for a calling card, research internet phone options, or learn the most inexpensive way to call collect or wirelessly from the destination country. You maybe able to select an international plan that has reduced calling rates to that particular country to minimize costs of calling from home. Given the cost of telephoning, it might be better to set up a regular schedule for emailing or instant messaging instead.

Make sure you will be informed if your student runs into difficulty overseas. Since students are almost always adults (over 18 years of age), you will not receive that information unless you are designated as their emergency contact. In some cases, even that is not sufficient, so you may want to have them sign a release form as a precaution.

Discuss how you will handle any family emergencies that may arise. It’s best to have a written emergency communication plan listing the methods of communication to use and the order in which to use them. Give your student a copy of the plan, which should include: all family telephone numbers; access codes for messages on family answering machines; phone numbers for several out-of state relatives; and several email addresses, including a backup address at an overseas provider such as Yahoo! Australia.

Gather all of the information you and your student might need while they are away, including:

• Contact information for
  • Your student (if housing has been assigned)
  • On-site Resident Director
  • Home office of the program provider (ask if they have a 24-hour emergency number)
  • Study abroad office at the home school
  • Doctors who have treated your student in the past
  • Citizen assistance section of the embassy or consulate nearest your student’s program
  • U.S. State Dept. Office of Overseas Citizen Services
• Insurance policy numbers and how to submit claims
• Your student’s credit card numbers
• Your student’s passport number
• Duplicate lost passport kit (your student should take one abroad as well) containing:
  • Two passport photos
  • Official copy of their birth certificate
  • Photocopy of passport’s photo, signature, and visa pages
• Program calendar

If you want to help your student prepare, make plans to take care of the following necessities together:

• Understanding program policies
• Travel documents
• Health preparations
• Financial preparations
• Insurance
• Travel planning
• How to get in touch while abroad
• What to do in case of emergency
• Collecting a data file

You may have to help handle some things for your child while they is abroad, such as:

• Renewing a driver’s license
• Registering to vote or requesting an absentee ballot
• Filing income taxes
• Paying monthly credit card bills
• Preparing for the next semester at the home school (open mail from the college and remind your student)
  • Registering for classes
  • Selecting a housing option
  • Preparing forms to continue financial aid